Press Releases

AUGUST 16, 2011 – CBC Television and the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television announced today that global comedy star Russell Peters will host the 26th ANNUAL GEMINI AWARDS. Winner of the 2008 Gemini Award for ‘Best Performance or Host in a Variety Program or Series’ and four-time Gemini Award nominee, Peters will return to his hometown of Toronto, Ontario to host the star-studded celebration that honours the best in Canadian television. The 26th ANNUAL GEMINI AWARDS will be broadcast live on Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) on CBC Television from the CBC Broadcast Centre in Toronto. Special musical performances and celebrity presenters will be announced in the coming weeks.

“I’m excited about hosting the Emmys, but since that’s not happening, these Geminis are going to be amazing. Plus this will be a great warm-up for when I do host the Emmys,” jokes Peters.

“We're thrilled that Russell Peters, who's known worldwide for his sell-out standup tours, is coming to CBC to host the Geminis,” said Kirstine Stewart, executive vice-president, English Services, CBC. “Who better than a great Canadian talent to celebrate - great Canadian talents?”

“Russell Peters is brilliant! We are delighted he will host the 26th ANNUAL GEMINI AWARDS and entertain Canadians from coast to coast on the live CBC broadcast,” said Helga Stephenson, interim CEO, Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television.

Born in Toronto, Russell Peters is a global comedy and Internet sensation. His YouTube clips have been viewed over 60 million times and he has performed to sold-out crowds from Toronto’s Air Canada Centre, to New York’s Madison Square Garden, to the Sydney Opera House to London’s O2 Arena where he established a new attendance record. Over the course of his twenty-plus-year career, he has headlined comedy festivals throughout North America and has performed sold-out arena tours worldwide. In 2009 and 2010, he made the Forbes list of top earning comedians in the United States along with Chris Rock and Jerry Seinfeld. Peters’ first book, Call Me Russell, was a number one bestseller, and his new movie, Breakaway, will premiere at The Toronto International Film Festival on September 10th, and will be in theatres this September. In October, Peters will be inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame. Peters is also a Gemini Award winner (‘Best Performance or Host in a Variety Program or Series’) for hosting the Juno Awards in 2008.

Launched by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television in 1986, The Gemini Awards honour outstanding achievements in the Canadian English-language television and new media industries. The Gemini Awards bring together over 2,500 of Canada's most gifted craftspeople, producers and decision-makers over several evenings of special events. The 26th ANNUAL GEMINI AWARDS will be broadcast live on Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) on CBC Television from the CBC Broadcast Centre in Toronto.

TORONTO AUGUST 17, 2011 – The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television is pleased to announce that comedian Steve Patterson will host the 26th annual Gemini Industry Gala on August 30 and broadcaster Jian Ghomeshi will host the Gemini Industry Gala on August 31.

"We're delighted to have two of the most talented and savvy entertainers in show business to host the 26th Annual Gemini Industry Galas,” says Helga Stephenson, ACCT Interim CEO. “Steve and Jian are both quintessential entertainers who clearly have a love for the Canadian creative community. This is great news for everybody.”

Steve Patterson is familiar to over 500,000 weekly listeners as host of CBC Radio’s The Debaters, coming to CBC television this fall. He has been nominated for Canadian Comedy Awards in 2007, 2008 and 2011 as Canada’s best male stand-up comic and is a Gemini nominee this year for his Just For Laughs, Steve Martin-hosted gala.

Jian Ghomeshi is an award-winning broadcaster, writer, musician and producer. He is the host and co-creator of the national daily talk program, Q (on CBC Radio One and Bold TV) which has become the highest-rated show in its morning time slot in CBC history. Jian has been published in The Washington Post, The Guardian and The Globe and Mail.

Both Gemini Industry Galas will be held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

As previously announced, the 26th annual Gemini Awards Broadcast Gala will be hosted by Russell Peters on September 7. 2011.